D Block

A number of national organizations have signaled their support for the reallocation of the 700 MHz D Block from the commercial auction to the 700 MHz Public Safety Broadband Licensee. The attached letters supporting reallocation of the 700 MHz D block were just sent to the House and Senate commerce committees from the following national organizations representing state and local governments:

National Governors Association (separate letter to FCC also attached)
National Conference of State Legislatures
The Council of State Governments
National Association of Counties
National League of Cities
U.S. Conference of Mayors
International City/County Management Association

Also, Motorola filed an Ex Parte with the Commission on Monday in which they initiated the process of providing technical and engineering documentation explaining why the reallocation of the D Block to public safety is needed. It is also attached for your review.

I am reminded of what former House Speaker Tip O’Neill used to say; “all politics is local”. All state and local public safety officials should very seriously consider communicating with their elected federal officials regarding the D Block. If this spectrum is auctioned and the 20 MHz of 700 MHz spectrum for public safety broadband is lost, any alternative to grant public safety additional spectrum in other bands will be much more expensive as unique components will be necessary; not the commercial products envisioned today by public safety.

Public safety needs to communicate with Congress. Please let your voices be heard before it is too late to make a difference.

04-12-2010Motorola%2CInc.pdf
Big7Dblockletter-House.pdf
Big7Dblockletter-Senate.pdf
NGA-NBPLetter.pdf